Overall rating: 4.5 out of 5. FOOD: 5 / 5. VALUE: 4 / 5. AMBIANCE: 4.5 / 5
The food at Rouge is, in a word: stunning. The dishes lived up to my high expectations of the place bestowed by S. Pellegrino as one of the world’s best 100 restaurants in 2010. The setting: the historic Cross House in Inglewood just minutes from downtown.
This was my last Lunch Rush column for Metro Calgary before I moved to London, so I decided to splash out. Funnily enough, it was actually cheaper than lesser restaurants I’ve dined at. Why didn’t I eat here every week?
I started with the seasonal soup creation, a roasted cauliflower and yellow zucchini with scallion oil ($10). The soup was comforting and gourmet. At $10 bucks a pop, it’d better be good, and believe me (cheap-ass that I am), it was well worth the price.
Pureed soup at a nice restaurant is one of my favourite things in the world.
Jason had the couscous salad with almonds and cranberries, with a side salad of shaved fennel and orange vinaigrette ($10). The light citrus flavour lent a refreshing tone. I particularly enjoyed the crunchy toasted almonds and the fennel salad accompaniment. Read More
Overall rating: 4 out of 5. FOOD: 4 / 5. VALUE: 3.5 / 5. AMBIANCE: 4 / 5
The recently opened Blue Star Diner in Bridgeland, from the owners of Dairy Lane Cafe, is working from a proven and popular concept of a solid lineup of breakfast and lunch dishes. While there are some Dairy Lane repeats like the standout DL burger, new offerings abound as well. Read my Lunch Rush column in Metro Calgary, or continue for the expanded version…
We ate a grilled cheese sandwich with slices of Granny Smith apple, sautéed onions and Sylvan Star Gruyere ($12.95) with skinny fries and baked beans. The thin apple slices served primarily to add texture rather than enhance flavour. Everything tasted fresh, but the neutral colour palette lacked “oomph” presentation-wise.
If not for the pickle and a few pokey apple slices, this plate would make the colour beige jealous.
Next was the gluten-free Huevos Rancheros ($12.95). The crispy corn tostadas, warm refried beans and two sunny-side up Sylvan Star eggs were complimented by some cool black bean cilantro salsa and avocado slices. The hash browns were peppery and soft on the inside but could have used a crunchier outside. Read More
Simply sandwichlicious.
Lunch at Rustic Sourdough Bakery is one of Calgary’s best kept secrets. Click here for my Metro Calgary review or continue reading for the expanded version.
Orders are placed at the deli counter where the sandwich options are gourmet and don’t cost extra. It can be a little bit confusing as there’s no official queue, so make sure you pay attention to your turn, in order to catch any potential “budgers” (it’s a good excuse to do a finger snap and be all “Nuh-uh, I was here FIRST, lady/man/senior citizen”).
Handcrafted European breads are baked fresh daily (choose from rye, sourdough, pita, buns etc.). Fresh-sliced deli meats include turkey, salami, smoked chicken and more. The cheese—havarti, provolone, gouda—is real and unprocessed. Read More
